Thursday, June 10, 2010

Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup

It really was a long time coming for the franchise who had the longest drought in the NHL having last lifted Lord Stanley's Cup in 1961. The franchise has had a great turnaround the past few years thanks in part to great draft picks and a new ownership. Hats off to Rocky Wirtz who really has turned this franchise around completely since taking over the franchise after his father's death. Bill Wirtz had a rough relationship with the fans in Chicago. He was notably frugal and went as far as blacking out home games from TV in order to sell tickets. He managed to alienate not only fans but many Blackhawks legends.

It was fitting that former Blackhawk(also played for the Flyers) great Jeremy Roenick was in the NBC postgame booth. Jeremy Roenick of course led the team to a Stanley Cup Final but did not win the big one. His tears were genuine. They say the Stanley Cup is the toughest trophy to earn in sports and it is hard to argue that. The season is long and the playoffs just as brutal. There are few things in sports that top NHL playoffs in terms on intensity and drama.

The Blackhawks winning leaves my Toronto Maple Leafs with the longest Stanley Cup drought. The franchise last won in 1967. Hopefully the manage to win one in my lifetime because I definitely plan on being there for the clinching game and the parade.